Ian Gallagher

The organisers of the Northamptonshire Beer Festival have confirmed they will definitely not be staging the event at Delapre Abbey this year, instead concentrating on regrouping for 2014.

Northants CAMRA announced last month that it had cancelled the event, but Northampton Borough Council immediately pledged to work with them to ensure it still went ahead, amid a wave of public support.

Talks have been ongoing between the council and CAMRA, but the branch has now reaffirmed its plans to cancel the event.

The festival was initially pulled due to fears over insurance claims, and a lack of CAMRA volunteers willing to organise it.

But the borough council says it is still looking at what it can do to keep the event on the calendar.

In a statement on Northants CAMRA’s website, Phil Greenway, branch chairman and festival organiser, said: “The Northamptonshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale has decided to take a year off from staging the Delapré Abbey Beer Festival. It has been decided that we will re-group and return stronger for the event in 2014.

“We apologise for the disappointment that this will cause but strongly feel that the present resources are not sufficient to plan and hold the event this year.

“We are grateful for all the supportive messages that have been received during the last few weeks.”

Last week, Northampton Saints said they would also look at holding the festival at Franklin’s Gardens.

Speaking to the Chron, Mr Greenway said any beer festival which took place this year would not be under the CAMRA umbrella, but there was nothing to stop other organisations putting on a beer festival.

Council leader, Councillor David Mackintosh (Con, Rectory Farm), said: “The borough council has received this announcement and we will be looking to see what we can do. We will issue a further statement in due course.”